Wednesday February 15, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

9 Muslims removed from U.S. flight get apology

World Jan. 03, 2009 - 05:40AM JST ( 30 )

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

Order by Time Order by Popularity

30 Comments

0

bagofromJan. 03, 2009 - 09:09AM JST

professional Marshalls, stupid pilot, stupid company, stupid co-passengers. Sorry for the family, sorry about the way West is letting it self guide by its fears.
0

smartacusJan. 03, 2009 - 09:50AM JST

Pilots and federal marshals have to use their common sense. Unlike panicky passengers, they need to have better judgement of when some comments represent a real threat or not. I don't know how anyone could think that what these people said about where to sit on a plane could be considered suspicious. Certainly, the other passengers who reported it overreacted. That's the trouble nowadays. People are freaked out.
0

likeitisJan. 03, 2009 - 11:45AM JST

Federal officials ordered the rest of the passengers from the plane and re-screened them before allowing the flight to depart about two hours behind schedule.

Fairest thing to do.

Irfan said he thought he and the others were profiled because of their appearance.

No doubt in my mind they were, but not by the airline, by the passenger who reported the conversation. No doubt that if the family looked like the typical white relatives of say, Timothy McVeigh, the conversation would have been seen as the normal conversation of any family who get on a plane.

Family members were upset that AirTran didn’t allow them to book another flight.

Sounds to me like monetary compensation is in order.
0

smithinjapanJan. 03, 2009 - 01:34PM JST

likeitis: "Sounds to me like monetary compensation is in order".

Agreed, in the form of a major lawsuit. That there was some panic, while unforgivable, is understandable in this day and age (ie. I understand there are idiots that would panic about this). That the company, even after the FBI cleared them and suggested they be sold tickets or let on the plane, continued to refuse, is disgusting. If it were because they were black, imagine! Disgusting!
0

USARoninJan. 03, 2009 - 01:38PM JST

I'd've been disappointed if the anti-American anti-West CAIR had not involved themselves.

I is vindicated.
0

ProfJuanColePhdJan. 03, 2009 - 02:27PM JST

This tragic event provides more proof of how Americans were radicalized by Al Qaida and the events of September 11,2001. Homeland Security failed these 9 Muslims, who should have been provided with some Sensitivity Training or something.
0

USARoninJan. 03, 2009 - 02:44PM JST

"...Homeland Security... should have been provided with some Sensitivity Training..."

Doesn't get much more entertainin' than this.

Who in a first-world country today doesn't know they should be darn careful about what they say in airports or on aircraft.

Give me a break. Funny though...
0

TriumvereJan. 03, 2009 - 03:15PM JST

The real insult was their refusal to reseat them after the FBI cleared them. This apology is a little late in coming.

USARonin: Homeland security is as inept as it callous, and needs some major sensitivity training. I should note, however, that the TSA seems to have behaved well in this particular case, but there are many others where it has performed appallingly.
0

USARoninJan. 03, 2009 - 03:34PM JST

Triuvere, tellin' me or anyone at the JT Olympics doesn't actually do anything for anyone, least of all yourself.

It is only because of my humanitarian nature that I offer you the following:

http://www.tsa.gov/contact/index.shtm

You gots one stop shoppin' for complaints, suggestions and, yes, even... compliments.

I believe that some of the TSA's 'attention to detail' - as it were - is really overboard.

Again, folks should watch their mouths. That was true even well before 9-11.
0

WayneRooney10Jan. 03, 2009 - 04:48PM JST

Fight discrimination! The Islamic race needs better p.r. you know. That's waht I say.

Won't get yourselves kicked off of aeroplanes if your agents is doing their jobs properly.
0

nandakandamandaJan. 03, 2009 - 05:05PM JST

Anyone, of any religion, who insists on wearing their religion publicly will have to be prepared for minor or even major misunderstandings. It comes with the territory...
0

zurcroniumJan. 03, 2009 - 05:13PM JST

nanda,

right! Like priests are thrown off planes everyday. They should just know better than to wear their collars and those creepy black clothes. And nuns in their habits, forget about it.
0

USARoninJan. 03, 2009 - 05:18PM JST

Zurcronium, I haven't heard of priests or nuns sayin' things in airports or on aircraft that require them to be further scrutinized.

Apples and oranges.
0

NessieJan. 03, 2009 - 05:19PM JST

This tragic event provides more proof of how Americans were radicalized by Al Qaida and the events of September 11,2001.

Summary arrest would be radical. Violence would be radical. "Radicalized" is overstating the case.
0

skipthesongJan. 03, 2009 - 05:58PM JST

Like priests are thrown off planes everyday." No, I haven't heard of that, but I have heard of a BA employee "Heathrow check-in worker Nadia Eweida was sent home after refusing to remove the crucifix which breached BA's dress code." Seems only when discrimination happens against Muslims, you go off the deep end.

How many acts of discrimination against non-Muslims ever make it here on JT? How many acts of discrimination against non-Muslims by Muslims do we hear, such as one leader calling for rapes in London against non-Muslims and what is the count at now?

Muslims, by practice, are the most discriminating people at the moment. I feel for the family but at the same time they need to make a few changes. Not all discrimination against them was brought on by 9-11.
0

smithinjapanJan. 03, 2009 - 07:25PM JST

USARonin: "Who in a first-world country today doesn't know they should be darn careful about what they say in airports or on aircraft."

None of these people was saying anything other than the fact that their seat is close to an engine. Would be exactly the same as you saying it's close to the toilet. The victims here said absolutely NOTHING to indicate anything out of the norm. If the had said, "I'm in a great location to set off a bomb!" or something like that, I would agree with you 100% in relation to this incident. As it is, your comment has zero relevance, as usual.

Actually, what this incident says is just how many paranoid freaks there are in the US these days. I notice you don't at all express any sympathy for the people in question, but instead make fun of what happened as though it were correct.

As one person on here said, if it were a relative of Timothy McVeigh who said the same thing they did, no one at all would have complained about a thing and the people would not have been ejected.

Sad that you support the nimrods who run this company. Fortunately, they have been forced to apologize, are under review, and may well face lawsuits they will never have a chance in hell of winning.

Skipthesong: You're WAY off topic here. While this is indeed a case of outright discrimination against Muslims, it has nothing to do with them disagreeing to remove something at the security gates, does it? Your point is moot on this thread, so stop trying to undermine what happened to these people, and the horrible methods by which this company treats its customers.
0

bobbafettJan. 03, 2009 - 09:55PM JST

lucky they didn't end up at Guantonimo bay
0

smithinjapanJan. 03, 2009 - 10:30PM JST

bobbafett: "lucky they didn't end up at Guantonimo bay"

Indeed, with the irrational paranoia going around much of your country. Security is necessary; nothing in this incident was. In fact, if they know which passenger instigated this whole thing, I think the airline can sue for damages (after they are sued for continuing to refuse the Muslim people, especially after the FBI cleared them) since they had to take off and screen everything and everyone again. Waste of time and money to boot.
0

buddha4brainsJan. 03, 2009 - 11:33PM JST

What the ...? Only the paranoid would think that anyone planning an attack would say anything at all (or in plain spoken English) that would give the game away. And then add the fact that they were travelling as a family with young children.

Someone profiled the group and ruined everyone's holiday.
0

TriumvereJan. 04, 2009 - 12:02AM JST

Look,

esentially this is a good story. Why? because the gov't did right. There will always be racist SOBs, but the FBI cleared, and then stood up for them. I have seen their interviews on CNN. The airline was clearly in the wrong. I hope they get compensated. But I'm proud of my country here. Its when intolerence is institutionalized that there is a problem.
0

smithinjapanJan. 04, 2009 - 01:34AM JST

nandakandamanda: "It comes with the territory..."

Yes, so long as no one is willing to change ignorance, it does.
0

HonestDictatorJan. 04, 2009 - 01:46AM JST

Heh, seem you folks have forgotten how the US is in times when we feel we're threatened. The Japanese and the Germans didn't get much mercy back in the day, you were expecting anything different with the current situation?

Its not these folks fault at all and I'm glad nothing worse has happened. But as I always have noticed, US society, at least usually the majority will become influenced by human instinct to feel threatened by certain ethnicities or religious groups when something bad happens. No matter what you say, people cast under a dark cloud are always going to treated with extremely wary eyes. 'tis human nature.
0

SuperLibJan. 04, 2009 - 05:16AM JST

smithinjapan: Actually, what this incident says is just how many paranoid freaks there are in the US these days.

Since 43 million passengers are expected to use airline travel during the holiday season alone (to, from, within the US), it's probably fair to say that your gross exaggeration of this once incident might point to a bit of paranoia in your own head. But I understand that you get emotional sometimes.
0

bagofromJan. 04, 2009 - 07:02AM JST

for example:

Imams thrown off US flight 'for praying' http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/nov/22/usa.religion

ASIANS THROWN OFF FLIGHT AFTER PASSENGERS' 'SUSPICIONS' http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2006/aug/21/wrap.jamessturcke

Asians thrown off flight http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article70663.ece

Calypso band thrown off aircraft win damages http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/feb/06/terrorism.humanrights

Jewish man removed from airplane for praying http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2006/09/05/qc-hasidicprayeronplane.html